Hoyer Statement on October Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the Department of Labor released its jobs report for October:

"Our economic recovery continues to move forward, as the monthly jobs report for October shows. With an increase of 212,000 private sector jobs last month, our economy is putting Americans back to work, despite the negative effects of the government shutdown.

"However, even while October's numbers exceeded expectations, the pace of our jobs recovery continues to be slower than it could be if we provided businesses with the certainty they need to expand and hire. There are several concrete actions Congress can take to speed up the growth in jobs, the first of which ought to be achieving a long-term solution to our fiscal challenges through an approach to deficit reduction that is balanced, bipartisan, and replaces the irrational sequester. The budget conferees who are now meeting have a real opportunity to make progress toward reaching this goal and could inject greater certainty into our economy by reaching an agreement this month.

"Furthermore, both chambers of Congress have an opportunity to advance legislation to invest in economic competitiveness and revitalize America's manufacturing sector. House Democrats have introduced several bipartisan, job-creating bills under our Make It In America plan, and Senate Democrats have now put forward a complementary set of bills.

"I hope House and Senate Republicans will make the determination that the best way to help advance our recovery and put more of our people back to work is by partnering with Democrats to move jobs bills through Congress and compromise on a balanced solution to deficits that will end the uncertainty plaguing our economy."